Lighted ring toy

ABSTRACT

The new type of toy for children, the toy consisting of a ring for being rolled across a ground or floor, the ring being transparent so a circle of lighted electric lamps inside the ring can be visible as the ring travels, the ring also including a dry cell battery and switch for closing a circuit with the lamps.

United States Patent 1191 111] 3,91 1,264 Chao Oct. 7, 1975 [54] LIGHTED RING TOY 2,984,937 5/1961 Rendon 46/220 3,254,443 6/1966 Olson 46/220 [76] Inventor: Albert L. Chao, 407 Glendale Road, 3,641,333 2/1972 Gendron 2410/64 R Northvale, J. 7647 3,676,662 7/1972 Dick 240/10 T 3,755,663 8/1973 George 240/10 R [22] 1974 3,790,775 2 1974 1265611151611 240/6.4 w [21] Appl. No.: 487,791

Primary Examiner-Joseph F. Peters, Jr. Assistant ExaminerAlan Mathews [52] [1.8. CI. 240/6.4 R; 46/228 51 Int. c1. F21V 33/00 Agen Rchard Mule [58] Field of Search 240/6.4, 6.4 W, 10 R;

46/220, 228, 229 [57] ABSTRACT The new type of toy for chlldren, the toy consistmg of [56] References Cited a ring for being rolled across a ground or floor, the UNITED STATES PATENTS rmg be1n g transparent so a clrcle of lighted electrlc lamps mslde the rmg can be v1s1ble as the rmg travels, 2 EET 4 the ring also including a dry cell battery and switch for 1 e 2,738,619 3/1956 Oquist 46/230 Clsmg a the lamps 2,928,206 3/1960 Kuhn 46/220 X 4 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures US. Patent Oct. 7,1975 3,911,264

LIGHTED RING TOY This invention relates generally to childrens toys.

A principle object of the present invention is to provide an activity toy for fun and diversion, and which gives healthy physical exercise.

Another object is to provide an activity toy that is fun for using at night because it is self illuminated with different colored electric lights.

Still another object is to provide a lighted ring toy, which when tossed twirling in the air, gives the appearance of several different colored ring flying.

Further objects of the invention will appear as the description proceeds.

To the accomplishment of the above and related objects, this invention may be embodied in the form illustrated in the accompanying drawings, attention being called to the fact, however, that the drawings are illustrative only, and that changes may be made in the specific construction illustrated and described within the scope of the appended claims.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the invention shown wheeled along a ground.

FIG. 2 is a side view thereof shown partly in cross section.

FIG. 3 is an edge view thereof partly in cross section.

FIG. 4 is a detail view of the joint plug, switch and battery.

FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view thereof shown assembled.

FIG. 6 is an electric circuit of the invention.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, the reference numeral 10 represents a lighted ring toy according to the present invention wherein there is a hollow translucent tube 11 made of fairly stiff plastic hose cut to a desired length and looped. The opposite ends thereof are fitted upon opposite ends of a wooded or hard plastic plug 12 so that the ring shaped loop is retained for purpose of rolling.

The cylindrical plug 12 has a hole 13 on its side in which an electric switch 14 is fitted so that a switch button 15 thereof protrudes outwardly from between the opposite ends of the tubular loop and extending toward the ring center, as shown in FIG. 2, so that the button is safely out of the way when the toy is rolling on its outer periphery.

A dry cell battery 16 is press fitted in an opening 17 formed in one end of the plug so that when worn out it can be easily replaced by pulling one end of the tube off the plug, so to have access thereto. A contact cap 18 is fitted on a protruding terminal of the battery, while an opposite terminal of the battery is contacted by a wire conductor 19 fitted in a longitudinal groove 20 along a side of the plug and being connected to the switch.

A wire assembly 21 extends around the interior of the tubular loop and includes one conductor wire 22 connected to another terminal of the switch; the wire 22 extending through an opposite end of the plug groove 20. The wire assembly also includes conductor wire 23 secured to cap 18. Between wires 22 and 23 a set of spaced apart mini-lamps 24 are placed in parallel circuit to each other. The mini-lamps may be of multiple colors, so that in use, when the switch is closed and the toy is rolled or tossed during darkness, an interesting light display of various colored circles is visible to an observer.

Thus an interesting lighted ring toy is provided.

It will be further noted that thev inner surface 25 of the ring 10 is roughened or crinkled as to increase the frictional coefficient between the ring and user.

While certain novel features of this invention have been shown and described and are pointed out in the annexed claims, it will be understood that various omissions, substitutions and changes in the forms and details of the device illustrated and in its operation can be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In a lighted ring toy, the combination of a looped hollow tube of translucent plastic, a plug fitted into opposite ends of said tube for retaining said tube in the shape of a ring, said plug being of plastic and having a first opening in one end thereof for frictionally holding a battery, a second opening along a side of said plug, a switch mounted in said second opening, a switch button of said switch extending beyond a periphery of a side of said plug, said switch button being located between said opposite ends of said tube fitted on said plug, and said switch button extending inwardly beyond an inner periphery of said ring, and being of adequate length for being grasped and operated by a user.

2. The combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein said illumination means comprises a wire assembly which extends through the interior of said tube, opposite ends of said assembly being connected to said switch and battery, and forming an electric circuit.

3. The combination as set forth in claim 2 wherein said wire assembly includes spaced apart mini-lamps of different colors wired in parallel to each other in said wire assembly.

4. The combination as set forth in claim 3 wherein the inner surface of the ring is roughened so as to increase the friction coefficient therebetween and an objeet. 

1. In a lighted ring toy, the combination of a looped hollow tube of translucent plastic, a plug fitted into opposite ends of said tube for retaining said tube in the shape of a ring, said plug being of plastic and having a first opening in one end thereof for frictionally holding a battery, a second opening along a side of said plug, a switch mounted in said second opening, a switch button of said switch extending beyond a periphery of a side of said plug, said switch button being located between said opposite ends of said tube fitted on said plug, and said switch button extending inwardly beyond an inner periphery of said ring, and being of adequate length for being grasped and operated by a user.
 2. The combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein said illumination means comprises a wire assembly which extends through the interior of said tube, opposite ends of said assembly being connected to said switch and battery, and forming an electric circuit.
 3. The combination as set forth in claim 2 wherein said wire assembly includes spaced apart mini-lamps of different colors wired in parallel to each other in said wire assembly.
 4. The combination as set forth in claim 3 wherein the inner surface of the ring is roughened so as to increase the friction coefficient therebetween and an object. 